Engine-starter.



J. G, KING.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 191a.

1,21 9,560. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

FLY WHEEL (/6655 GI/fnve.

HTTORN'E Y UNITED STATES PATENT oErioE.

JESSE G. KING, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T SPLITDORF ELEc'rnIoAL COMPANY, 01 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed June 7, 1916. Serial No. 102,242.

of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is such a full and clear description as to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a starter for engines such as internal combustion engines,

and especially to certain specific features in construction and operation thereof, the advantages of which will become apparent from the description given hereinafter.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a starter particularly for internal combustion engines, which will be automatic in its action, very simple in construction, and hence cheap to manufacture, at the same time efficient in operation. Other and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification:

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar reference characters are used to denote similar parts in each of the respective views.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of my invention with the driving member, hereinafter described, in its idle position. Fig. 2 is a partial detailed view of a similar elevation showing said driving member in its operative or working position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, 2 is an armature of an electric motor which constitutes the prime mover and 1 is a casing which may constitute the field frame surroundin the motor armature. The armature sha is shown extended to form the driving shaft 12. While in my present invention the armature shaft is continued to form the driving shaft 12, it is evident that the driving connection between. the motor and the said driving shaft may be of any suitable kind such as a gear connection, which may be further used to multiply the power of the motor. Likewise it is not necessary that the prime mover be an electric motor. 4 is a bearing which is contained in the casing 1 and which serves as a bearing both for the motor and driving shaft 12.

Mounted upon the driving shaft 12 and secured firmly thereto by'means of bolt 8,

is a collar 5, having a sleeve 14 of Smaller diameter than collar 5. Disposed about the outer lateral circumference of sleeve 14 is a gear 10 of the dental type. A spring 7 is mounted on the sleeve 14 for a purpose hereinafter described. Also mounted upon said shaft 12 is a driving memberlS adapted to slide longitudinally along the shaft 12 and shown to be in itsnormal inoperative position in Fig. 1. One end of member 18 is provided with gear teeth which are adapted to mesh with similar gear teeth on the engine flywheel 16. It will be understood that the driving member 18 may engage any member operatively connected to the engine without departing from the intended purpose. Teeth of the dental type are cut in the face of the hub 13 of the driving member. Over this hub a collar 22 is mounted and projects beyond the teeth for a purpose hereinafter described. The driving connection between the motor and the driving the drawing shows these springs as flat it is to be understood that any type of flexible spring may be employed such as the coiled type.

by the collar 5 through the medium of the sprmgs 6. However, I prefer to use a gear driving connection between the two said members as hereinbefore described; A cas ng 17 shown in section in Fig. 1, substantially surrounds the starting mechanism, thus protecting all parts'from liability of injury. However, a small opening 21 in casing 17 is left to provide for engagement between the engine and the. starting device. At the outerend of the housing 17 is another bearing 19 integral with said housing. Oil

.The driving member 18 may be operatedand hub 13 as to permit of a free rotary movement of the springs. While wells 3 and 20 supply lubrication to the bearings 4 and 19 respectively. This starting device is preferably mounted in close proximity to the flywheel casing 15 as shown in Fig. 1.

A feature of my invention, hitherto not common in starting apparatus, is the manner in which the driving member operates relative to the driving. shaft. Said member' is mounted. upon the shaft 12 and is adapted to slide freely and smoothly to and fro without the guidance of any screw threaded or other complicated translating devices. The action of the said member is not dependent upon any complete rotary movement, but provides only for a longitudinal sliding movement under the control of resilient members.

Coming to the method of operation the driving member is seen to be in its normal position in Fig. 1. As the motor armature 2 begins to rotate the driving shaft 12 and the collar 5 will also rotate at the same speed and in the same direction. Owing to the freedom of rotation of the springs 6 about their fastening studs 9 the springs tend to move to the position shown in Fig. 2 and in so doing the driving member 18 is drawn into engagement with the engine wheel 16 before any rotary movement can be imparted to said member 18. Continued rotation of the driving shaft 12 draws the member 18 into mesh with sleeve 14. Just prevlous to the engagement of the dental gears 10 and 23 the collar 22 engages with the spring 7 thereby preventing the shock that might otherwise occur. Thus a positive driving connection is provided between the motor and engine for the purpose of starting the latter.

As the engine starts of its own power the flywheel acquires a speed greater than that given it by the member 18 in the process of starting. This increased speed of member 18 exerts a force on springs 6 which straightens them out in substantial parallelism with shaft 12, and thereby the driving member is automatically released from operative engagement.

Since the driving member 18 and the collar 5 are fastened together with springs any tendency of the former to hunt back and forth on the shaft 12, when idle, is eliminated.

It will be understood that numerous changes and alterations may be made in the various details of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor, a plain rotatable shaft connected to and operated thereby, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted to engage and operate sald engine member but normally out of engagement therewith, and means for causing the driving member to slide longitudinally with respect to said shaft, when said shaft is turned, into engagement with said engine member, and a driving connection between the motor and driving member.

2. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor, a plain rotatable shaft connected to and operated thereby, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and means on said driving member to engage with and operate the engine member but normally out of engagement therewith, means operated by the rotation of the armature shaft for causing the driving member to slide longitudinally into engagement with the engine member, said means also serving to automatically withdraw the driving member from such engagement when the engine runs on its own power, and a positive clutch connection between the motor and the driv ing member.

3. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected to the engine, a motor, a rotatable shaft driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted to automatically slide longitudinally into and out of driving engagement with the engine iiaember, a collar mounted rigidlyupon said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, and means on said collar for automatically engaging with and operating the driving memher for the purpose described.

4. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected to the engine, a motor, a shaft operated thereby, a collar having a projecting shoulder mounted upon and rotating with said shaft, gear teeth on the end of said shoulder, a driving member mounted upon the shaft and means for causing said member to slide longitudinally into and out of engagement with the engine member, a circular gear about the inner lateral circumference of the driving member and adapted to engage with said gear on the shouldered collar, when said motor is cranking the engine.

5. An engine starter comprising a motor having an extended armature shaft, a driving member having a hub projection mounted upon said shaft and having a longitudinal movement in both directions thereupon, a collar having a sleeve extension mounted rigidly upon said motor shaft, gear teeth on the end face of said sleeve extension, a resilient member mounted on said sleeve extension, gear teeth on the end face of said hub projection, adapted to engage the gear teeth on the said sleeve extension, a collar fastened to said hub projection and extend slide longitudinally thereon, a plurality of flexible members fastened to the external peripheries of said collar and driving memher and being free to rotate about said fastenings, whereby a turning movement of the collar draws the driving member longitudi' nally into engagement with said collar and the engine driven member. I

7. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected to the engine, a motor, a motor driven shaft, a collar rigidly mounted thereupon, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and arranged to automatically move longitudinally thereon, a flexible connection between said collar and driving member consisting of a plurality of springs so arranged as to respond to the rotation of the motor driven shaft, whereby the driving member is drawn into engagement with the engine member.

8. In an engine starter, the combination of a motor driven shaft, an engine driven member, a collar rigidly fixed to said motor driven shaft and rotatable therewith, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted for longitudinal movement with respect to same, flexible connecting means between said collar and driving member comprising a plurality of springs, said springs automatically causing the driving -member to engage the engine driven member when said driving shaft begins rotation, said springs also serving towithdraw the driving member from the engine driven member when said engine starts under its own power and further serving to prevent the hunting of said driving member when the starter is idle.

9. An engine starter comprising in combination, a motor having an extended armature shaft, a collar mounted rigidly upon said shaft, a driving member mounted upon and having a sliding longitudinal motion with respect to the motor shaft, gear driving means between said collar and driving member, and a flexible connection between said collar and driving member responsive to the rotation of said motor to bring said gear driving means together.

10. An engine starter comprising in combination, a motor having an extended armature shaft, a collar mounted rigidly upon said shaft, a driving member mounted upon and having a sliding longitudinal motion with respect to the motor shaft, gear driving means between said collar and driving member, and a flexible connection between said collar and driving member responsive to the rotation of said motor to bring said gear driving means together, and also means carried by said collar and driving member for absorbing the shock of engagement of said collar and driving member.

11. In an engine starter, in combination,

a motor driven shaft, a collar fixed rigidly thereupon and rotatable therewith, a driving member mounted upon the motor driven shaft and capable of longitudinal movement with respect, thereto, means for a driving engagement between said collar and driving member, and a flexible spring connection between the collar and the driving member, said flexible connection being responsive to a rotary movement of the collar to automatically draw the driving member into operative engagement therewith.

12. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected to the engine, a motor, a rotatable shaft driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted to automatically slide longitudinally into and out of driving engagement with the engine member, a collar mounted rigidly upon said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, and means interconnecting said collar and driving member for causing the latter to automatically engage with and operate the said engine" member. v

13. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, an electric motor having a plain shaft extension, a driving member adapted to engage and drive the engine member but normally out of engagement therewith, said driving member being mounted on said shaft extension and having means for engagingthe latter whereby operation of the motor advances the driving member into engagement with the engine member..

14. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member having teeth thereon operatively connected with the engine, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, a pinion mounted thereon for longitudinal and partial rotary movements relative thereto and adapted to mesh with the teeth on said engine member, the rotation of the shaft advancing the pinion into mesh with said member and the subsequent rotation of said member, which exceeds that of the shaft, withdrawing the pinion from mesh.

15. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a plain shaft operated by said motor, a driving I emeeo member having a smooth bore therein and being mounted upon the motor operated shaft, said driving member being adapted to slide longitudinally upon said shaft into and out of engagement with said engine member and means cooperating with the rotation of said motor to cause the driving member to move into engagement with the engine member, said means serving to release the driving member from such engage 1Q ment When the engine runs on its own power,

In Witness whereof I atfix my signature. JESSE Gr. KING. 

